Confessions of a Yarn Shop Owner — A Week at Over The Hook
Strike a pose. There's nothing to it.
The Main Confession
I'm going to be honest with you. Truly honest. Confessional, even.
I spent a lot of money on yarn this week. Specifically, on the Laura Bellica Yarns delivery — a collection inspired by Madonna's Confessions 2, the new album, keep up — and I am not going to tell you exactly how much because that information is between me and my Accountant. What I will tell you is that when it arrived, I was shaking. Hands. Trembling. I did an Instagram reel in a state of genuine emotional overwhelm. Stitch markers, needle toppers, yarn so beautiful it should have its own world tour.
Did I feel guilty? Briefly. For about four seconds. And then I remembered something important: collecting yarn and actually using yarn are two completely different hobbies. They coexist. They complement each other. One does not need to justify the other. I own a yarn shop. This is research. This is professional development. This is fine.
I have made my peace with it and I suggest you do too.
There was also a huge Stylecraft delivery this week, which was wonderful and professional and I handled it with complete composure. Unlike the Bellica situation. We don't need to revisit that.
Flora's Fauna is Finished
In the middle of all this parcel chaos, I finished something. I know. I'm as surprised as you are. My Rosina Plane crochet blanket, Flora's Fauna, is complete. The design is inspired by woodland creatures, so naturally we took it to the allotment for its reel debut. It looked stunning surrounded by courgette leaves and general July chaos. Very forest floor. Very me.
It's been quite a journey with this pattern and I've written all about it — the process, the decisions, the moments of doubt, and the very satisfying finish.
Read My Flora's Fauna Journey →
Allotment Life
The allotment has been demanding this week — the heat has been relentless and watering is basically a full-time commitment on top of the full-time commitment of running a yarn shop. The silver lining is that every Knit and Natter group this week has gone home with cucumbers, courgettes, and squashes. We are a craft community with an accidental veg box operation and I think that's beautiful.
What the Groups Have Been Making
Before I get into the individual makes, I just want to take a moment — because sometimes I look around at what we've built here in Lowestoft and I genuinely can't believe it. We have multiple Knit and Natter groups running across the week, a room full of people every session, beginners sitting next to seasoned makers, friendships forming over yarn and bad puns and David's baking. When I opened Over The Hook I hoped it might become a community. I didn't quite expect this. I'm very glad it is.
Right. The makes.
Paula has finished her jumper, Rocket by Stylecraft in Colour Burst, and it is an absolute triumph. Mandy has delivered yet another mini knit in Stylecraft Special DK in Spearmint. Mandy's output is frankly intimidating and I say that with the deepest respect. And Nikki has made the most beautiful bag from Yarnly T-shirt yarn — it is seriously impressive. If you want to know more about Yarnly T-shirt yarn, we have a whole blog post dedicated to it — go and have a read, you won't be disappointed.
Behind the Scenes — David's Baking & the Boys
None of this runs on yarn alone, and I'd be remiss not to mention David, who has once again been absolutely indispensable this week. Baking for the groups, baking for the coffee shop — this week's showstopper was a lemon and passionfruit Bakewell (my Idea) that went down an absolute storm. As it always does.
As you know, we foster, and the boys have been right in the thick of it this week — helping out in the coffee shop, getting their hands dirty down the allotment, and one of them is volunteering at Lowestoft Pride on Saturday. We couldn't be prouder. They are, frankly, brilliant.
Friday Night on the Seafront
Friday night Knit and Natter relocated to The Victoria Hotel on Lowestoft seafront. Drinks were had. The sea looked lovely. Knitting was minimal. No notes.
There was also the small matter of Helen and I planning our trip to the Summer Wool Festival in Ampthill. Specifically, the hotel situation. I have a vision. It involves thread count, slap up breakfast, and luxury. Helen has a different vision. It involves spending more money on yarn, that lead her to the idea of camping....I think not Helen! I will wave from the jacuzzi while you wriggle around in a sleeping bag trying to get out because you need a wee in the night. We discussed this at length. Calmly. Mostly. The matter remains unresolved but I remain optimistic that good taste will prevail.
Big News — The Welcome to Autumn Retreat
And now — the announcement I have been absolutely bursting to make all week.
I am thrilled to share that I've been working hard behind the scenes planning our upcoming Welcome to Autumn Retreat at Parkhill Hotel, Oulton, Lowestoft — and I am beyond excited to announce our guest designer: Cassie Ward. If you don't know Cassie, she is the author of Granny Square Fashion and a regular contributor to Crochet Now and Inside Crochet. She is brilliant, her work is stunning, and she is going to make this retreat something very special indeed. More details coming very soon. You're going to want to be there.
New Faces at Knit and Natter
A huge welcome to Kirstie and Sharon, who joined Monday night Knit and Natter for the first time this week. We hope we didn't scare you off. We are always exactly like this. It does not calm down. But there is yarn, and there are vegetables, and there is always a good time. We're so glad you found us.
Saturday Socks — A Workshop with Helen and Christine
Saturday brought one of my favourite kinds of afternoons — a proper sit-down, needles out, sock knitting workshop with Helen and Christine. There is something deeply satisfying about teaching socks. The moment it all clicks — the heel turn, the gusset, the realisation that yes, you can knit a sock and it will actually fit a human foot — is one of the great joys of this job. Helen and Christine were brilliant, and I have a feeling we've created two sock knitters who will never look back. The sock yarn stash is in serious danger. You've been warned.
Lowestoft Pride at Sparrows Nest — The UK's Most Easterly Pride
And what a way to end the week.
Saturday afternoon we headed to Sparrows Nest for Lowestoft Pride — the UK's most easterly Pride event — and it was, in a word, wonderful. We spent the late afternoon with friends, soaking up the entertainment, the colour, the joy, and the very important company of Tillie Mai the sausage dog, who took the whole thing entirely in her stride and was, predictably, the most popular attendee wherever she went.
We also made a very necessary stop to see our friends at Crafty Critters, where we may have come away with a rainbow crochet frog. It was not optional. It was fate. And then there was Breezey Rugs, where David — with absolutely no hesitation whatsoever — bought himself a sootsprite rug. If you know, you know. If you don't know, go and look up sootsprites immediately and then you'll understand completely.
Pride, friends, a sausage dog, a crochet frog, and a sootsprite rug. Honestly, that's the week right there in miniature. Lowestoft, we love you.
We're glad you're here. 🌈🧶
Adie
Over The Hook
